Manager, Technical Service, Component, Performance Chemicals Japan

Objectives of the Position

• The main coordinator and provider of first level technical support for Japanese & Korean customers
• Collaborate with the sales organization, regional and global teams to drive business growth
• Drive innovation and support business development for related industry segment in the region
• An active member of the global innovation and technical community・

Main Tasks

1. Innovation excellence:
   
   1. Drive sustainable innovation pipeline from ideation, business case, product development and launch
   2. Develop and drive ideation activities through different methods such as ideation campaigns, training and innovation workshops at customers
   3. Define and implement IP strategy to ensure protection of BASF new products together with Global Product Management, Regional Marketing and Sales
   4. Develop and enhance required technology and test methods related to product development either by existing experience or totally new non-existing solution
   5. As technology representative in Japan & Korea, ensure excellent networking across BU and R&D community to capture BASF competences. Manage interfaces with internal regulatory groups, regional product stewards and ensure change implementation (affecting product quality, safety)
   6. Ensure compliance with BASF EHS policy throughout product development phases
   
   
2. Technical Support
   
   1. Provide technical supports such as organizing technical seminars, workshops to introduce and promote products to Japanese and Korean customers
   2. Provide technical inputs/recommendation to strategy development and implementation based on analysis of product performance in comparison to competitive products and reports that define and rank performance requirements for technical success
   3. Provide competitive product performance information to verify competitiveness of own products
   4. Be responsible for evaluations of serious inquiries or customer complaints on technical related issues in order to find the best solutions and maintain good company reputation.
   
   
3. Business excellence:
   
   1. Responsible to drive product launch in coordination with Regional Product Management and Sales/ Business Development
   2. Drive business development though technical/ technology recommendation together with Sales or Marketing in Japan and Korea
   3. Influence and convince customers to adapt BASF solution through communication and negotiation with different function at customers (R&D, purchasing, production, business development and marketing)
   4. As technology representative in Japan & Korea, actively participate in Industry Team and other cross OD activities to ensure holistic offering to customers in accordance to One Company Policy
   5. As technology representative in Japan & Korea, coordinate problem solving at customers to retain and defend BASF business against the competitor offering
   6. Responsible for all technical issues at Japanese and Korean customers
   
   
4. Market intelligence:
   
   1. Capture customers or market needs through interaction with different functions of customers (R&D, technical, purchasing, production, business development and marketing) to identify the right products
   2. Understand competitor landscape and define strategy to counter competitor to win new or retain existing business
   3. Participate in exhibition and conferences to understand technology development trends related to the Fuel and Lubricant Solutions and its value chain.
   4. Deliver technical paper in local & regional conferences according to his/ her expertise as BASF technical representative in maintaining BASF reputation globally
   
   

Minimum Education and Qualification Required for the Position

• Education: Bachelor or Master degree
• Working Experience: 13 years for Bachelor or 10 years for Master experience in technical service, technical marketing or product development in the tribology industry
• Technical & Professional Knowledge: Solid knowledge of tribology, additives and industry technology/ processes as well as experience in project management and innovation management (application/product development)
• Negotiation skills required from a technical and business perspective as well as the ability to work effectively across internal and external organizations with different backgrounds in education and cultural
• Strong verbal and written English communication skills